No Rights of Passage unless Disputes Are Resolved
By Naveed Khan
San Jose , CA
A significant economic and political development in August has largely gone unnoticed. On August 14, Pakistan PM flagged-off a trial run of freight train service between Pakistan, Iran and Turkey. An all containerized train service would cover Islamabad-Istanbul route of 6500 KM in two weeks and will carry 20 containers destined for Iran and Turkey.
In the near future, a passenger train service would also be launched after the necessary upgrades of the track. That is not where the good news ends. China, very understandably expressed its keen desire to be linked with ECO ( Economic Cooperation Organization) train service as the prospects of economic and political benefits are substantial.
Within weeks of the inaugural train service and China's expression of interest, India has officially requested Pakistan for passage rights for a train service to Europe and Central Asia. It is a welcome sign and perhaps a realization that for an accelerated economic development, inexpensive access to markets in Central Asia and Europe is in the vital interest of India. The practicality and viability of India-Europe and India-Central Asia train link is based on sound reasoning and it would benefit many, including Pakistan.
Pakistan must convey a clear and concise message that unless the political and territorial disputes of Kashmir and Siachen are resolved and an agreement is reached for sharing river water resources, India will be not be given the sought after passage rights. It is important that the Pakistani leaders understand the significance of India's request and leverage it to seek an amicable resolution to disputes between the two countries.
India's desire to have the rail passage rights for economic reasons is easy to comprehend and the economic benefits are too obvious. India's desire to be the leader of Asian countries puts it in direct competition with China. Besides economic benefits, India needs political a standing comparable to China. Pakistan must never allow India this political standing unless the political, territorial and water disputes are settled in accordance with international law.
While resisting Indian overtures, Pakistan must speed up the process to link China with the railway route to increase the pressure on India. Pakistan's only bargaining card with India is the over-flight rights and land route access to Central Asia and Europe. These strategic advantages must not be squandered away without the resolution of issues that have consumed a lot of Pakistan's energy and resources in the last 60 years.
